Teenagers involved in organising rallies that call for action on climate change met Member for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly to present him with their hopes and vision for the future.
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In June, the members of the Bega Schools Strike for Climate team told the MP their main demand was they wanted the federal government to declare a climate emergency.
They also wanted him to fight for Australia to rely 100 per cent on renewable energy, to outlaw the construction of new coal mines in Australia, and to stop logging in the Bega Valley.
"We want him to do everything in his power in the interest of protecting our future," 16-year-old Minka Waratah of Tathra said.
"I'm going to be voting for whoever will be doing the most for the environment and the future, because nothing else matters really; if they're not looking after the world we have to live in."
In response to the teenagers, Dr Kelly said he supported coking coal for the use of making steel until better alternatives appeared, but he was determined to see an end to thermal coal for the generation of power, which should be supported by a clear plan to provide a just transition for the related workforce and local economies.
"If Labor had won the election and been able to implement its enhanced carbon farming initiative there would have been a whole new economic dynamic around forests," he said.
"This would have included a huge new investment in plantation resource and a significant value to be obtained from native forests as carbon sinks.
"I believe we can reach 100 per cent renewable energy by 2040 with a sound energy policy in place, given the evolution of the economic equation around failing coal fired power stations and lower cost renewable alternatives supported by the firming capacity of batteries and pumped hydro."
The meeting follows the creation of a petition by a 17-year-old Mogareeka resident that calls on the Bega Valley Shire Council to declare a climate emergency - a step that has already been taken by 27 other Australian councils.
This petition has been signed by almost 3000 people so far, and after meeting the members of Schools Strike for Climate one of those signatures belongs to Dr Kelly.
"There is no question we are facing a climate emergency, more pronounced in Australia than almost anywhere else in the world, and the time is well past when we should have been taking more serious measures to deal with it," Dr Kelly said.
"The federal government should acknowledge and sign up to this as well."
Ten-year-old Alina North-Andrew of Tilba/Wolumla said it was important to them to know the MP had signed the petition as it showed he agreed with them and was taking the issue of an emergency seriously.
The teenagers said the next school climate strike in Bega will be in early August, then one in September.
"We're not going to give up until everyone is understanding and everyone understands what we are doing," 11-year-old Jada Koeck of Brogo said.
She said when she hears people argue that climate change is not real, it really annoys her "because it's so obvious it does exist".
"There's so much understandable evidence about it. We aren't ignoring it, so why are they?" Minka said.
Albert McKnight
Journalist at Bega District News.
Journalist at Bega District News.
